Continuous flow through centrifuge



Dec. 20, 1966 E. J. TASSET 3,292,350

CONTINUOUS FLOW THROUGH CENTRIFUGE Filed Oct. 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FI 4 INVENTOR- EVERETT J, TASSET 1966 E. TASSET CONTINUOUS FLOW THROUGH CENTRIFUGE Filed 001;. 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. EVERETT J. TASSETv ag/W! i e A'l'TuRN/AS.

Dec. 20, 1966 E. J. TASSET 3,292,350

CONTINUOUS FLOW THROUGH CENTRIFUGE Filed Oct. 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 E. .1. TASSET 3,292,350

CONTINUOUS FLOW THROUGH CENTRIFUGE Filed Oct. 15, 1964 4 SheetsSheet 4 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. EVERETT J. TASSET United States Patent 3,292,350 CONTINUOUS FLOW THROUGH CENTRIFUGE Everett J. Tasset, 420 E. Chestnut St., Springfield, Mo. 65806 Filed Oct. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 403,986 20 Claims. (Cl. 56-1) This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending application, Ser. No. 362,388, filed Apr. 24, 1964 and now abandoned.

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for separating matter and more particularly to a novel centrifuge for continuously extracting fluids from or separating materials.

In drying extracting fluid from or separating large quantities of material, it is desirable from a standpoint of economy of time and expense to provide a means to process the material through the apparatus in a continuous manner. It is also desirable to provide a device for such continuous processing which will affect a quick and economical extraction of fluids from or separating the material being processed. One of the most effective ways of removing liquids or matter of varying density or size from materials is through the use of centrifugal force. It has been common in the prior art to provide centrifuges for extracting fluids from many different types of materials. Heretofore, centrifuges provided for the above purposes have been of the batch type in that material to be centrifuged is placed in a chamber provided in the centrifuge in batches, the centrifuging operation then being performed and the batch, when the machine is stopped, the material being removed therefrom. Obviously, this is a time-consuming operation when large quantities of material must be processed in the shortest possible time.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel centrifuging device which will remove fluids from solids in a continuous fashion by providing a combined centrifuge and conveyor structure for continuously and simultaneously conveying and centrifuging materials therethrough.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a novel continuous centrifuge having satellite centrifuge containers thereto, the satellite containers being adapted to continuously pick up and discharge the material for processing therethrough.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a continuous centrifuge having means therein for discharging materials of varying density or composition from the centrifuging containers by providing various areas or levels of discharge from the centrifuging device.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a continuous centrifuge having means to convey the mate rial being processed through the centrifuging containers.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a continuous centrifuge in which the material in the centrifuging containers is continually circulated by independent rotation of the individual centrifuging containers while rotating the entire unit carrying the centrifuging containers around a central axis.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel and compact, continuous centrifuging device which will efliciently extract fluids from solids in a minimum time.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals thereof indicate like parts throughout the figures and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a centrifuging device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of the centrifuging device of FIGURE 1;

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FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partly in section and partly broken away showing a variation of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view in section and partly broken away showing another variation of the device of FIGURE 1; I

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view partly in section and partly broken away showing still another variation of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view of a portion of the device of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of a drying apparatus in accordance with the present invention mounted on a self-propelled hay harvester;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the apparatus of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 7, and taken along the lines 9-9 thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in section and partly broken away of theapparatus of FIG- URE 9, the view being taken along the lines 10-10 thereof;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIGURE 9, the view being taken along the lines 1111 thereof;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional elevational view of a detailed portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 11, the view "being taken along the lines 12-12 thereof;

FIGURE 13 is a detailed elevational view, partly in section of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 9, and showing a variation in the structure thereof;

FIGURE 14 is a horizontal sectional View of the apparatus of FIGURE 13, the view taken along the lines 14-14 thereof; and

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 11, the view being taken along the lines 15-45 thereof.

The above objects are achieved by providing an apparatus which has incorporated therein satellite centrifuging containers which rotate around their individual axis while at the same time being rotated around a central unit axis. Each of the containers is provided with conveying means to transmit the material being treated continuously therethrough and the unit is provided with distribution and collection means to continuously supply material to be treated to and retrieve material which has been treated from the containers. As will be seen by reference to the following detailed description, the device may be used as an independent unit either fixed or portable or combined with other machinery such as harvesters to provide a portion of the crop harvesting process to be followed as such steps as pelletizing, baling, balling, or similar operations. When used in one form the device can be utilized to extract fluids from many types of materials such, for example, as sewage and can also be used to classify fluids and/ or materials of varying densities.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a device incorporating features in accordance with the invention is shown in sectional side elevation. The device basically consists of a central rotating shaft 21, disposed through and rotatably supported by upper and lower covers 22 and 23. The shaft is rotated by a source of power (not shown) and has mounted thereon transversely extending upper and lower cross members 24 and 26 which rotatably support individual container shafts 27 proximate the ends thereof. The rotating shaft 21 has mounted therearound, proximate the lower end, a fixed central driving gear 28 which engages driven container gears 29 rotatably mounted proximate the lower end of the container shafts 27. Each of the container shafts 27 has mounted for rotation therewith a centrifuge container shown generally at 31 comprising a base plate 32 with a frusto-conical container wall 33 mounted thereon. The container wall 33 is provided with an opening 34 concentrically disposed at the top end thereof and a conveying auger 36 spirally disposed around the inner surface of the upper portion of the container 31. An inner frusto-conical wall 37 is concentrically disposed on the base plate 32, extending upwardly past the midportion of the container 31. The inner wall 37 and the outer wall 33 form an annular frusto-conical chamber therebetween, the chamber being disposed in the lower portion of the container. The annular width of the chamber is substantially equal to the Width of the conveying auger 36. The container wall 33 I is provided with a plurality of orifices 38 in the area corresponding to and coextensive with the inner wall 37. A series of frusto-conical filter screens 39 are disposed in abutting relationship to the inner surface of the wall 33 in the area corresponding to and coextensive with the orifices 38 and are supported in the installed position by screen supports 41 extending from the inner wall 37. A lower discharge orifice 42 is disposed through the base plate 32 to communicate with the annulus formed by the inner wall 37 and the outer wall 33. The lower discharge orifice. 42 communicates with a lower material discharge deflector 43 fixed to the lower cross member 26.

A plenum wall 44 extends around the units between the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 23 to provide enclosure therefore and has, extending therethrough, a material supply conduit 46 Which discharges into a material distributor 47 mounted on the upper cross member 44 coaxial with the shaft 21. The distributor 47 has centrifuging container supply conduits 48 depending therefrom to extend into the openings 34 of each of the containers 31. A heat supply conduit 49 is disposed through the plenum wall 44 proximate the upper end thereof. Upper and lower collector rings 51 and 53 respectively are disposed around the inner surface of the plenum wall 44 adjacent the area of the orifices 38 in the containers 31. Upper and lower discharge conduits 54 and 57 respectively are disposed in vertical spaced relationships through the plenum wall 44 in communication with the collector rings 51 and 53 respectively. A ring of lower discharge ports 58 is disposed through the plenum wall 44 proximate the lower discharge deflectors 43.

In operation of the device as thus far described, power is applied to rotate the shaft 21 which in turn rotates the containers 31 as a unit through the cross members 24 and 26. Simultaneously the containers 31 are rotated about their individual axes by interaction between the fixed driving gear 28 and the container gears 29 which, when rotated, rotate the container shafts 27 and the containers 31. The material to be treated is then supplied through the conduit 46 and collects in the material distributor 47 for discharge into the containers 31 through the container supply conduits 48 under the influence of gravity and centrifugal force. The material supplied into the container 31 is then, through the conveying action of the rotating conveyor angers 36 and the component of centrifugal force imparted thereto by the trusto-conical walls 33, transmitted downwardly into the annular frustoconical chamber formed by the inner Wall 37 and the outer wall 33. The material, now under the influence of the centrifugal force generated :by rotation of the unit as a whole and the individual containers as well as the tumbling action caused by the individual rotation of the containers is pressed against the filter screens 39 and the fluid is expressed therefrom or particles are sifted therefrom according to the nature of the material introduced into the device. The screens 39 may he made in varying sizes so that smaller particles or less viscose fluids are expelled from the upper area of the container into the collector ring 51 for discharge through the conduit 54 while the larger particles or more viscose fluids are ejected from the lower portion thereof for collection by collector ring or the most viscose fluids are discharged through the lower discharge orifice 42 into the lower discharge deflector 43 for expulsion through the lower discharge ports 58.

This device thereby provides for continuous flow .of materials through the centrifuge, the multiple rotating containers through their independent rotation continually altering the disposition of the material to continuously vary the direction of force acting thereon and to con-. tinuously clean the filter screens of the device. The ma-. terial is continuously discharged and as hasbeen seen,

may 'be continuously classified according to particle size or fluid viscosity. The material drying eifect of the device 1 is increased by supplying heat from any suitable source. 1 through the heat supply conduit 49 to increase the Cffi'.

ciency or rapidity of the device when used as drying apparatus or to alter the viscosity of the fluid if the ambient viscosity of these fluids is not suitable for grading, sepr aration, expressing or the like under ambient conditions.

Treatment or processing time may be adjusted as' de-. l

sired by properly designing the angle of the conveyor auger 36 and/ or the gear ratio between the gears 28 and 29, as well as by suitably adjusting the speed of rotation 1 of the motive power source.

In FIGURE 3, a variation of the apparatus of FIG.-

URES 1' and 2 is illustrated and parts thereof correspond.- v

ing to the parts of FIGURES l and 2 are indicated by like numerals only of the next higher order. In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the primary variation istthe additional provision of means to inject fluid into the material being treated in the apparatus. These means consist of a fluid supply conduit 159 connected to a bore 161 coaxially disposed through the shaft 121. Fluid injection orifices 162 .are radially disposed through the shaft 121 in communication with the bore 161 and provide a means for spraying fluid from the bore onto the individual containers 131. A variable orifice 163 is also disposed through the container wall 133 proximate .the upper collector ring 151.

The operation of the device of FIGURE 2 is essentially the same as that described for the embodiment of FIG-. URES 1 and 2 with the exception of the capability of supplying fluid during the centrifuging operation. The fluid may be injected if needed to fluidize the material to aid in the classification thereof, to clean the material, to aerate the material or to otherwise treat or alter the chemical or mechanical composition of the material. as desired. The variable orifice 163 can be incorporated in the containers wherever desired and are useful to accommodate materials having varying particle sizeor viscosity so that the apparatus may be used for the treatment of more than one type of material for the production ofv more than one type of material. The embodiment of FIGURE 3 further illustrates an additional intermediate.

number or any location of collector rings deemed necesw sary for particular requirements may be incorporated in the device as desired.

Referring now to FIGURE ,4 of the drawings a further variation of the device of FIGURES 1 and 2 is illustrated and parts corresponding to those in FIGURES l and 2 are indicated by like numerals only of a second higher order. The primary variation illustrated in this figure lies in the drive mechanism which incorporates 'belt and pulley arrangements rather than the gear drive.

train of the preceding figures. In this figure the shaft 221 is driven through a pulley 264 mounted thereon, the

pulley in turn being driven by a drive belt 266 driven by a power source (not shown). A fixed pulley 228 mounted around the shaft 221 intermediate the ends thereof drives a container pulley 229 through a secondary belt 267 in the same manner to produce a similar result as i that achieved by the gears of the aforedescribed embodiments.

At this point it should be made clear that the means for driving the individual containers of this device can assume many suitable forms within the intended scope of this invention. Other devices, in addition to the abovedescribed pulleys or gears, such, for example, as friction, individual motor or electromagnetic drives can obviously be incorporated to accomplish rotation of the containers.

A second variation, illustrated to demonstrate the versitility of the device, lies in the conveying means of the containers 231. In these containers, the sole conveying force through the containers is provided by the frustoconically configured walls 233, the shape thereof providing a downward component of the centrifugal force acting on the material injected therein. The embodiment of FIG- URE 4 would particularly be adapted for use in fluid extracting apparatus such as driers, juice expressers and the like.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, still another variation of the aforedescribed devices is shown. Parts therein corresponding to parts of the previous figures are indicated by like numerals of the next higher order. In the device of this figure, the conveying is accomplished solely by the angering action of the conveying auger 336, the walls of the container being configured in a cylindrical form. Other than the form of the containers 331, the primary distinction over the prior embodiment of FIGURE 5 lies in the provision of replaceable filter cartridges 339 as is more clearly shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. The cartridges 339 are provided in annular short cylinders, the transverse faces thereof having an arcuate ridge 368 therearound to receive an elastomeric circular seal 369 which cooperates with the filter surjacent thereto to provide sealing therebetween. An annular filter seal 371 is provided around the exterior periphery of the filter to abut the inner surface of the wall 333 and thereby provide sealing between the discharge portions of the filter. This seal is particularly important where filters of varying size are used in succession to prevent co-mingling of the discharge therefrom. The conveying auger 336 is similarly provided with an annular seal 372 therearound, the seal being in abutting relationship to the filter cartridge 339 to provide sealing between the conveying auger and the filter cartridge.

With provision of the above seals, the necessary segregation of zones is maintained yet the flexibility thereof provides the capability of removing the cartridge filters for replacement and/ or for variation in mesh size thereof depending upon the desired use of the device.

The replaceable cartridges could, of course, be incorporated in the first-described embodiments of the invention, however, the cylindrical shape of the embodiment of FIGURE 5 simplifies replacement of these cartridges since the cartridges may be easily slipped in and out of the upper portion of the containers 331. g In the prior embodiments the filters must be segmented or the conical container walls must be lifted from the base plate prior to replacement of the filters thereby somewhat complicating the filter and/ or replacement process.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 of the drawings another embodiment of the device is shown incorporated in a mobile hay harvesting machine. In this embodiment an apparatus for drying hay during the harvesting thereof is provided. The device is susceptible of use as an independent unit or in conjunction with a harvesting machine, or in cooperation with subsequent processing devices such as pelletizers, balers, ballers, or the like. The novel features of the invention provide for a compact and eflicient drying apparatus which quickly extracts moisture from the harvested and chopped crop for rapidly drying same.

The continuous centrifuge of the present figures constitutes a novel arrangement of rotating foraminous fluid extracting containers or cylinders which are, in turn, ro-

tatably mounted on a support in spaced parallel relationship to a central centrifuging axis for rotation therearound. The rotation of the containers expresses fluid from the contents thereof and, in certain embodiments, constitutes a conveying force for the movement of material therethrough. This embodiment also contemplates the incorporation of heat obtained either from the engine of the harvester or from an external source to aid in the moisture extracting operation.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 of the drawings, a device embodying the features of the invention is shown incorporated in a harvesting machine 473, as outlined above. The harvester may be modified to incorporate the drying device of the present invention or may be constructed especially for use with said device. Here again parts thereof corresponding to parts of the prior figures are indicated by like numerals only of the next higher order. The device illustrated here is most similar in structure to the embodiment heretofore shown in FIGURE 4 since it is preferable to utilize a lighter weight pulley drive system for mobile devices. The harvesting machine has conventional ground engaging rear driving wheels 474 and stub axle mounted steering wheels 476 carrying a box frame which in turn supports the harvesting equip ment including an engine 478 for furnishing propulsion for the machine as well as power for the harvesting equipment.

The box frame 477 has mounted thereon, in spaced parallel relation, a pair of frame members 479 which have, connected thereto, a rear cross frame member 481 and a forward cross frame member 482. A drivers seat 483 and conventional steering apparatus 484 are also mounted on and carried by the box frame 477. The forward cross frame member 482 has mounted thereon a pair of bearing blocks 486, which rotatably support the upper portions of a pair of vertical shafts 487. Each of the shafts 487 has affixed thereto subjacent the bearing blocks 486 a pulley 488 while a rotary cutter blade 489 is suitably secured to the lower end of the shafts for rotation therewith. The cross frame member 482 has mounted, on the central portion thereof, a bearing block 492 which rotatably supports the upper portion of a shaft 421 (FIGURE 3) which in turn, has mounted thereon a shaft pulley 464. The shaft 421 is adapted to drive a spin drier unit that is interposed between the cutter blades 489 which will be described in greater detail below.

A gear reduction and power disconnect box 493 is mounted on the box frame 477 adjacent the engine 478 and has, projecting therefrom, a vertical power delivery shaft 494. The power delivery shaft extends through a blower unit 496 and is rotatably mounted, at its upper end, in a bearing 497 affixed to the rear cross frame 481. A pulley 498 is mounted on the shaft 494 adjacent the bearing 497 and is connected for power transmission to the pulley 464 by a drive belt 466. A pair of pulleys 498 are mounted on shaft 421 superjacent to pulley 464 and are connected for power transmission to pulleys 488 on shafts 487 by a pair of drive belts 501.

The shaft 494 also provides power for ope-ration of the blower 496, the purpose of which will be described later. The gear reduction and power disconnect box 493 serves to disconnect the cutting and drying apparatus from the engine 478 when the harvesting machine is being driven in a non-harvesting portion of its operation. The gear reductionbox also serves to adjust the rotational output of the engine so that the cutting and drying apparatus is operated at the proper rate.

The spin drying unit is shown in detail in FIGURES 9, l0 and 11 and consists of a plenum chamber 444 mounted in stationary relationship to and around the shaft 421 for enclosing essential portions of the unit. The box frame 477 is provided with diagonal braces 502 (FIGURE 8) which support the lower end portions of the shafts 487 while circular covers or housings 503 sur- 7 round the shafts and cutting blades 489. The covers 503 may be mounted on or formed integrally with either side of the lower portion of the plenum 444 and are so configured as to communicate with the interior thereof. The forward portion of the covers or housings 503 are formed with an opening 504 (FIGURE 7) through which the standing crops pass as the harvesting machine moves forward so that the crop is cut down, chopped by the rotating blades 489 and then delivered to the lower portion of the plenum 444 for drying.

The spin drier shaft 421 has, mounted thereon, upper and lower cross members 424 and 426 respectively which form the centrifuge mount for rotatably supporting therebetween vertical centrifuging containers 431.

Each of the containers is composed of a vertical'shaft 427 supported on the cross members 424 and 426 by suitable bearings or the like while a cylindrical foraminous screen or cloth mesh body 433 (FIGURES 13-14) is coaxially mounted on the shaft 427 for rotation therewith. Each of the shafts 427 has a pulley 429 aflixed to the upper end thereof which is connected for power transmission to a fixed pulley 428 carried by the shaft 421 in the plenum 444. A belt 467 is entwined about the pulleys for transmitting rotative movement to the shafts 427 and containers 431. The lower cross member 426 (FIGURE 12) has secured thereto, beneath the containers 431, a semi-circular scoop 447 which serves to chop, collect and direct, into the centrifuge containers 431, the cut and chopped crops from the cutting blades 489 and the cutting edges of the scoop. An upper plenum baffle plate 506 (FIGURE 9) is mounted on the centrifuge container shafts 427 to rotate with the cross members 424 and 426 to prevent the chopped and processed crops from entering the upper area of the plenum 444 and possibly clogging and jamming the rotating pulleys 229 and belts 228. A pair of baflie plates 507 and 508 supported by shaft 421 prevent the entry of any of the chopped crops between the centrifuge containers 431.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 10, the blower 496 is formed with a duct 509 that is connected with the upper interior portion of the plenum 444 through an opening 511. The blower withdraws or sucks air from the openings 504 in the covers or housings 503 through the plenum 444 and duct 509, for discharge through blower discharge opening 512 (FIGURE 8). The blower thus provides a means for entraining and moving the harvested crop through the drying unit and for discharging the processed crop from the machine.

Although the apparatus shown in the drawings illustrates a direct discharge from the blower 496, it should be obvious that the blower discharge may be connected to other processing equipment such as pe'lleters, balers, ballers, or may be extended to discharge into a bin or a wagon if so desired.

In operation the crop is cut by the rotating blades 489 and the cutting edges of the scoops 447 and fed into the lower part of the plenum under the influence of the air flow created by the blower 496, the centrifugal force of the rotating blades and the air flow created by the blades and scoops themselves. The cut crop is gathered .into the centrifuge containers 431 by the scoops 426 and centrifuged for moisture extraction under the influence of the rotation of the cross members 424 and 426, while at the same time, the crop is tumbled under the influence of the individual rotation of the centrifuge containers. Because of the air flow induced by the blower 496, the harvested crop is simultaneously conveyed vertically up through the centrifuging containers 431 to extract moisture therefrom and then directed through the duct 509 and blower discharge opening 512. The moisture extracted from the harvested crop by the centrifuging action is spun onto the walls of the plenum 444 where it flows to the bottom thereof under the influence of gravity and is collected in an angled collector ring 451 (FIGURE 15) mounted around the the inner periphery of the lower portion of the plenum. As shown in FIGURE 15 the plenum 444 is provided with the ring 451 around an inner, surface thereof and has a port 454 proximate the ring for the discharge, of the moisture collected thereby. Re-.

ferring to FIGURE 9 of the drawings, an upper sealing ring 513 is located on the inner periphery of the plenum 444 proximate the upper ends of the centrifuge containers 431 and serves to prevent egress of moisture extracted from the harvested crop into the upper portion of the plenum chamber.

As an alternative or an aid to the conveying action provided by the air flow generated by the blower 496, other conveying means may be provided as a supplement or substitute for the conveying action thereof. Referring now to FIGURE 13 and FIGURE 14 of the drawings, a helical, conveyer auger 436 is shown fixed to the 1 interior of the centrifuging container 431 to rotate. there- 7 with. In this embodiment, material is conveyed through the container by the action of the auger 436 as it rotates with respect to the harvested material being passed thereportion at theupper end of the container so that, .under the influence of centrifugal force, material in thecont tainer is conveyed upwardly therethrough. These ,al-

ternative means, of course, may be used, either alone, or in conjunction with the structure shown.

As an adjunct to the drying operation, and in addition to moisture extraction under the influence of the centrifuging action of the containers, heat may also be applied to the material being passed through the apparatus to aid in the drying of the material. This heat although derived from the engine of the harvesting apparatus may also be generated by some auxiliary heating unit such as a gas burning heater, electrical heater, or the like. Re: ferring again FIGURE 7, a radiator 514, for cooling the engine 478, is connected thereto by a conduit .516 and.

provided with a hood 517 that encloses a cooling fan 518. The hood 517 has an exhaust duct 519 connected thereto, the duct having a two-way valve 521 for directing the flow from the exhaust duct either to the atmosphere or to the harvesting apparatus. Intersecting the exhaust duct proximate the valve is a heat transmitting duct 522 which is connected to a heat distributing cham-. ber 523 located on the front lower portion of the plenum chamber 444 (FIGURE 8). The valve 521 may be actuated to direct exhaust into the heat transmitting duct. 522, and from there to the chamber 523 which communicates with the plenum 444 thereby assisting in the centrifuging and drying action. When the harvester is being driven during a non-harvesting operation, the valve 521 may be actuated to exhaust heat from the radiator.

514 directly to the atmosphere through exhaust duct. 519.

The last described embodiment of the invention is specifically set forth to illustrate a particular use to which devices in accordance with this invention maybe put.

All of the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described hereinabove are intended primarily as exam-,

ples of forms which the invention may take to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the teachings thereof;

It should therefore be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Whatis new and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A continuous flowthrough centrifuging apparatus comprising:

a support having a central. rotative axis therethrough; a plurality of containers positioned on said support,

each of said containers having an independent rotative axis therethrough;

drive means carried by said support and connected to said containers for rotating said containers as a unit about said central axis;

a second drive means carried by said support and connected to said containers for rotating each of said containers about their respective independent axis;

means located at one end of said container to deliver material to said containers; means in each of said containers to convey material therethrough; and means located at the other end of said containers to discharge material therefrom, said containers and the material therein upon rotation as a unit about said central axis being affected by a first centrifugal force, the rotation of said containers about said independent axes producing a plurality of seconary centrifugal forces that serve to continually alter the disposition of and the direction of said first centrifugal force.

2. A continuous flow-through centrifuging apparatus comprising:

a support;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said support, means to rotate said shaft;

a plurality of containers connected to said shaft in radially spaced relationship thereto for rotation as a unit therearound, drive means connected to said containers and energized by said shaft for rotating said containers independently of said shaft at a rate different than the rotative rate of said shaft;

means to continuously distribute material to, convey material through and discharge material from said containers, said containers and the material therein upon rotation around said shaft being affected by a centrifugal force produced by the rotation of said containers as a unit, said containers upon their independent rotation continually altering the disposition of and the direction of said centrifugal force.

3. A continuous flow-through centrifuging apparatus comprising: i

a support;

a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said support, means to rotate said shaft;

a plurality of vertically disposed containers connected to said shaft in radially spaced relationship thereto for rotation as a unit therearound, means connected to said containers for rotating same on said support independently and at a rate different than the rotative rate of said shaft;

a material distributor coaxially mounted around said shaft to rotate therewith, means to continuously supply material to said distributor, supply conduits mounted on said distributor, each of said supply conduits being disposed to provide communication between said distributor and one of said containers to continuously supply material thereto;

means to continuously convey material through said containers; i

and means to continuously discharge material from said containers.

' 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to continuously convey material through said containers comprises at least frusto-conical surfaces defining the vertical walls of said containers, said containers having material receiving and discharging ends thereto, the smaller diameter of said containers being disposed proximate the material receiving end of said containers so that the vertical component of the centrifugal force acting on the material therein acts to convey the material toward the discharge end thereof.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means to continuously convey further comprises a shoulder helically mounted around the inner periphery of the vertical wall of said containers to rotate therewith, said shoulder being configured to convey material from the material receiving end to the material discharging end of said containers upon rotation thereof.

*6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to continuously convey comprises at least a shoulder helically mounted around the inner periphery of the vertical wall of said containers to rotate therewith, said containers having material receiving and material discharging ends thereto, said shoulder being configured to convey material from the material receiving end to the material discharging end of said containers upon rotation thereof.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to rotate said containers comprises a driving gear fixed with relation to said support and coaxially mounted around said central shaft, a driven gear fixed to each of said containers and intermeshed with said driving gear to be driven thereby when said containers are rotated about said central shaft.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to rotate said containers comprises driving pulleys fixed with relation to said support and coaxially mounted around said central shaft, a driven pulley fixed to each of said containers, and belts drivingly connecting each of said driven pulleys to a driving pulley to be driven thereby where said containers are rotated about said central shaft.

9. A continuous flow-through centrifuging apparatus comprising:

a support, Walls defining a plenum chamber mounted on said support;

a central vertical shaft rotatably disposed in said plenum, means to rotate said shaft, a plurality of corresponding pairs of upper and lower vertically spaced arms extending radially from said shaft,

a container rotatably mounted between each of said pairs of arms in radially spaced relation to said shaft for rotation therearound,

means to independently rotate each of said containers on said arms at a rate different than the rotative rate of said shaft, said means comprising a driving member fixed with relation to said support and coaxially disposed with respect to said shaft, a driven member fixed to each of said containers, and means to drivingly connect said driving member and said driven members to provide rotation of said driven members and said containers as said containers are rotated about said central shaft;

a material distributor coaxially mounted around said shaft to rotate therewith, means to continuously supply material to said distributor, supply conduits mounted on said distributor, each of said supply conduits being disposed to provide communication between said distributor and one of .said containers to continuously supply material thereto,

means to convey material through said containers;

means to continuously discharge material from said containers including pervious walls defining at least a portion of said containers to effect ejection of material from said containers under the influence of centrifugal force, and means associated with the walls of said plenum to collect and discharge the ejected material from said plenum;

and means to supply fluid to said plenum to treat the material in said containers. 7

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means to collect and discharge material comprises a plurality of vertically spaced collector rings disposed around the inner periphery of said plenum wall, and at least one discharge orifice communicating with each of said collector rings to discharge the material collected therein.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the pervious Walls of said containers include filter sections having different size mesh thereto, said sections being disposed in vertically arranged rings with the abutting edges thereof corresponding in vertical disposition to one of 1 1 said collector rings so that material of different densities, ejected through different sections is discharged through the plenum wall at separate discharge points.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means to supply fluid comprises: a gas duct communicative with said plenum and a source of heated gas to conduct gas to said containers; and a source of liquid, a liquid conduit communicative with said source of liquid and said plenum to direct liquid to said containers.

13. In a harvesting apparatus having harvesting blades, a harvesting crop drying centrifuge comprising:

a plenum;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said plenum, means to rotate said shaft, a plurality of crop drying cylinders having foraminous cylindrical walls thereto connected in radially spaced relationship on said shaft for rotation as a lmit therearound with the rotation of said shaft, means connected to said cylinders for rotating same within said plenum independently of one another;

means to convey the harvested crop from said blades into said cylinders;

and means to convey the harvested crop through said cylinders for discharge therefrom;

the effect of rotation of the components being such that moisture is expressed from the harvested crop through the foraminous walls of said cylinders by the pressure of the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of said shaft while the disposition of the material therein and the direction of centrifugal force acting thereon is continually altered due to the independent rotation of said cylinders, whereby the harvested crop is dried by removal of moisture therefrom.

14. A crop drying device in accordance with claim 13 wherein means are provided to supply and direct heated air through said cylinders during the rotation thereof to aid in the removal of moisture from the harvested crop.

15. In a self-propelled harvesting apparatus having a pair of laterally spaced rotary cutting blades for harvesting and chopping a crop, a harvested crop fluid extracting and drying apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical plenum disposed above the space between said blades;

a cover disposed over each of said blades, a cylindrical wall depending from said cover around the periphery thereof to enclose the ends of said blades, said wall having a crop admitting opening in one portion thereof and a harvested crop discharge opening communicative with said plenum in another portion thereof;

a vertical shaft rotatably mounted means to rotate said shaft;

at least two vertically disposed crop drying cylinders mounted in spaced, diametrically opposed relationship to one another on said shaft for rotation as a unit therewith, means connected to said cylinders for rotation as a unit therewith, means connected to said cylinders for rotating same within said plenum independently of said shaft at a rate which is different than the rotative rate of said shaft;

said cylinders having foraminous cylindrical walls and open top and bottom ends thereto, each of said cylinders having a scoop disposed proximate its lower in said plenum,

end in fixed rotational relationship to said shaft,jsaid scoops being disposed to feed the harvested crop discharged from said blades into the bottom of said cylinders when said shaft is rotated, said scoops further having crop cutting surfaces on the leading edges thereof;

means to convey the crop through said cylinders for removal of moisture therefrom under the influence of the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of said shaft, the disposition of the material therein and the direction of centrifugal force acting thereon being continually altered due to the independent rotation of said cylinders during the rotation of said shaft, the dried crop being discharged from the top ends of said cylinders;

and a discharge duct mounted proximate the top of said plenum and communicative with the interior thereof for reception and discharge of the dried crop.

16. A crop drying device in accordance with claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the means to convey the harvested crop through said cylinders comprises a blower connected to said plenum to induce flow of material through said cylinders to said discharge duct.

17. A harvested crop drying device in accordance with claim 16 wherein another portion of said means to convey' the harvested crop comprises a helical auger type conveyer centrally mounted and fixed to the walls of said cylinders, said conveyer being disposed to convey material fed into said cylinders upwardly under the combined influence of the rotation of said conveyer with said cylinders and the rotation of said shaft.

18. A crop drying device in accordance with claim 15 wherein the means to convey the harvested crop through said cylinders comprises a helical auger type conveyer centrally mounted and fixed to the walls of said cylinders,

said conveyer being disposed to convey material fed into said cylinders upwardly under the combined influence of the rotation of said conveyer with said cylinders and the rotation of said shaft.

19. A harvested crop drying device in accordance with claim 15 including means to supply heated air to said containers during operation of said harvested crop drying device to aid in the drying of said material.

20. A harvested crop drying device in accordance with claim 19 wherein said means to supply heated air includes a source of heat comprising a liquid cooled internal combustion engine on said harvesting apparatus, a radiator for cooling the liquid in said internal combustion engine, a hood and fan apparatus mounted over said radiatorfor drawing heat therefrom, and means including a valve connecting said hood to said plenum for selectively supplying heated air drawn from said radial-tor to said plenum,

and means to actuate said valve between a position directing heated air to said plenum and a'position directing heated air to the atmosphere.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,367 9/1915 Armstrong 21021O X 1/1935 Harrison et a1. 34-58 X t 

1. A CONTINUOUS FLOWTHROUGH CENTRIFUGING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A SUPPORT HAVING A CENTRAL ROTATIVE AXIS THERETHROUGH; A PLURALITY OF CONTAINER POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORT, EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS HAVING INDEPENDENT ROTATIVE AXIS THERETHROUGH; DRIVE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT AND CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINERS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTAINERS AS A UNIT ABOUT SAID CENTRAL AXIS; A SECOND DRIVE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID AND CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINERS FOR ROTATING EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE INDEPENDENT AXIS; MEANS LOCATED AT ONE END OF SAID CONTAINERS TO DELIVER MATERIAL TO SAID CONTAINERS; MEANS IN EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS TO CONVEY MATERIAL THERETHROUGH; AND MEANS LOCATED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CONTAINER TO DISCHARGE MATERIAL THEREFROM, SAID CONTAINERS AND THE MATERIAL THEREIN UPON ROTATION AS A UNIT ABOUT SAID CENTRAL AXIS BEING AFFECTED BY A FIRST CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, THE ROTATION OF SAID CONTAINERS ABOUT SAID INDEPENDENT AXES PRODUCING A PLURALITY OF SECONARY CENTRIFUGAL FORCES THAT SERVE TO CONTINUALLY ALTER THE DISPOSITION OF AN AND THE DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST CENTRIFUGAL FORCE. 